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Super Bowl 50 MVP: Peyton Manning Best Bet to Win

By Dan Salem

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) during the game against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) during the game against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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The heavy favorite plays for Carolina, but Peyton Manning is the best bet to win Super Bowl 50 MVP. Five stellar players hold solid odds, but only one is your best bet. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

We’ve already said who we like to win the big game (or at least, win against the spread), so now it’s time to pick the Super Bowl 50 MVP. Here are the odds according to the Westgate SuperBook. Apparently, this is the first year ever that Las Vegas books are being allowed to take wagers on Super Bowl MVP, perhaps because it is something that is not technically decided on the field. Who knows what changed about that for this season though. Let’s go through some of the interesting picks.

Cam Newton 5/7 odds

The case for Cam: This is simple. He is the overwhelming favorite, as he should be. He is the best player in this game, and if Carolina wins the Super Bowl, it will likely mean Newton is awarded MVP honors. I could even envision a scenario in which the Panthers lose the big game and Newton is still named MVP because no one else on either squad has a notable performance.

Peyton Manning 7/2 odds

The case for Peyton: If Denver wins, Manning could be named MVP by default if no one else has a performance with enough of an impact. Giving Manning the MVP in this instance is like how you would allow your neighbor’s little kid to beat you in Connect Four; it’s not quite charity but just a step or two above.

Greg Olsen 20/1

The case for Greg: He is Carolina’s best skill player outside of Newton. If Newton doesn’t run much yet targets Olsen for much of the game through the air, a Panthers’ win could be hoisted on the shoulders of their tight end. At 20/1 odds, that might be worth the risk.

Von Miller 25/1

The case for Von: Miller is my favorite pick on either side to win MVP. His odds are still high enough to compensate for the fact that a non-QB hardly ever wins this thing. But he was the best player for Denver last game, and if the Broncos win, it would be easy to imagine that being the case yet again.

Related Story: Super Bowl 50 Best Pick Against the Spread

There are a ton of other options, including other Denver defenders or even a wager on The Field. Does any MVP pick that I haven’t listed strike your fancy? Or, if not, which out of this quartet do you like the best when taking the odds into account?

Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is introduced before the game against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is introduced before the game against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

DAN:

This is the perfect Super Bowl debate, until you actually look at the historical numbers. Of the last twelve Super Bowl MVPs, dating back to 2004, an unsurprising eight were quarterbacks. Three MVPs were wide receivers and only one of twelve played defense. Prior to that year we had a bit more variety, with eleven of the last twenty winners playing quarterback. Nevertheless, the odds are rather high that a QB or wide receiver takes home the trophy.

There is one other player I like in this MVP debate.

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Emmanuel Sanders 25/1

The case for Sanders: If a quarterback doesn’t win the MVP, then history tells us a wide receiver will win. Sanders has been Denver’s most prolific receiver when the team as a whole does big things on offense. He seems to fly under the radar, yet always notches big plays and lots of yards. He’ll need to dominate in order to win MVP, but with 25/1 odds it’s definitely worth a wager.

Which player would I put my money on for MVP, considering the odds? I’d bet on Peyton Manning. Cam Newton has the best chance to win, but the payout is not that strong because of it. I think this game is a lot more even than people care to believe, and Denver has a great chance to win.

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If the Broncos pull out a victory, it will take a herculean effort by another member of the team to unseat Peyton Manning as Super Bowl MVP. With 7/2 odds I’m putting my money on Manning to go out on top of the sport in the grandest way possible.

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